HB4346 - Relating to the release of motor vehicle collision report information.

  89R10553 AJZ-D     By: Curry H.B. No. 4346       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the release of motor vehicle collision report   information.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 550.065, Transportation Code, is amended   by amending Subsections (b), (c), and (f) and adding Subsection   (e-1) to read as follows:          (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), (c-1), or (e), the   information is privileged and for the confidential use of:                (1)  the department; and                (2)  an agency of the United States, this state, or a   local government of this state that has use for the information for   [ collision prevention ] purposes of collision prevention or a   criminal investigation conducted by a law enforcement agency .          (c)  On written request and payment of any required fee, the   department or the governmental entity shall release the information   to:                (1)  an entity described by Subsection (b);                (2)  the law enforcement agency that employs the peace   officer who investigated the collision and sent the information to   the department, including a person acting on behalf [ an agent ] of   the law enforcement agency who is authorized by contract to obtain   the information;                (3)  the court in which a case involving a person   involved in the collision is pending if the report is subpoenaed; or                (4)  any person directly concerned in the collision or   having a proper interest therein, including:                      (A)  any person involved in the collision;                      (B)  the authorized representative of any person   involved in the collision;                      (C)  a driver involved in the collision;                      (D)  an employer, parent, or legal guardian of a   driver involved in the collision;                      (E)  the owner of a vehicle or property damaged in   the collision;                      (F)  a person who has established financial   responsibility for a vehicle involved in the collision in a manner   described by Section 601.051, including a policyholder of a motor   vehicle liability insurance policy covering the vehicle;                      (G)  an insurance company that issued an insurance   policy covering a vehicle involved in the collision;                      (H)  an insurance company that issued a policy   covering any person involved in the collision;                      (I)  a person under contract to provide claims or   underwriting information to a person described by Paragraph (F),   (G), or (H);                      (J)  a radio or television station that holds a   license issued by the Federal Communications Commission;                      (K)  a newspaper that is:                            (i)  a free newspaper of general circulation   or qualified under Section 2051.044, Government Code, to publish   legal notices;                            (ii)  published at least once a week; and                            (iii)  available and of interest to the   general public in connection with the dissemination of news;                      (L)  any person who may sue because of death   resulting from the collision; or                      (M)  an employee or authorized representative of a   vehicle storage facility, as defined by Section 2303.002,   Occupations Code, that stored a vehicle involved in the collision   [ accident ].           (e-1)     In addition to the information required to be released   under Subsection (c), the governmental entity may release a vehicle   identification number and specific collision information relating   to that vehicle to a person described by Subsection (c)(2).          (f)  The department or the governmental entity when   releasing information under Subsection (c-1) , [ or ] (e) , or (e-1) :                (1)  may not release personal information, as defined   by Section 730.003; and                (2)  shall withhold or redact the following items:                      (A)  the first, middle, and last name of any   person listed in a collision report, including a vehicle driver,   occupant, owner, or lessee, a bicyclist, a pedestrian, or a   property owner;                      (B)  the number of any driver's license,   commercial driver's license, or personal identification   certificate issued to any person listed in a collision report;                      (C)  the date of birth, other than the year, of any   person listed in a collision report;                      (D)  the address, other than zip code, and   telephone number of any person listed in a collision report;                      (E)  the license plate number of any vehicle   listed in a collision report;                      (F)  the name of any insurance company listed as a   provider of financial responsibility for a vehicle listed in a   collision report;                      (G)  the number of any insurance policy issued by   an insurance company listed as a provider of financial   responsibility;                      (H)  the date the peace officer who investigated   the collision was notified of the collision;                      (I)  the date the investigating peace officer   arrived at the collision site;                      (J)  the badge number or identification number of   the investigating officer;                      (K)  the date on which any person who died as a   result of the collision died;                      (L)  the date of any commercial motor vehicle   report; and                      (M)  the place where any person injured or killed   in a collision was taken and the person or entity that provided the   transportation.          SECTION 2.  To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails   over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,   relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted   codes.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.